Good ski season turns CairnGorm loss into profit

The excellent Scottish 2009/10 ski season has been underlined in the recently released financial figures from one of the biggest ski areas in Scotland. The operator of the Cairngorm ski area has posted figures which show and impressive turn around; a £40,000 loss in 2008/09 was converted into a £730,000 profit last season, helped by 21feet of snow, and the feet of just under 150,000 skiers and snowboarders. Last season eventually saw the lifts stop on June’s Midsummers Day!

This turn around is all the more amazing given that Highlands and Islands Enterprise took the operation into public ownership, including its £6 million debt. Since then there has been further investment, including the funicular railway. Future plans include a zip wire course, expansion of mountain biking, and expansion of the lower section of the Core na Ciste area. The heralndscotland site reports that CairnGorm Mountain Limited, the ski area’s operator, have already seen a 25% jump in applications for 2010/11 season tickets.